We rely on journalists to explain how and why the world around us is evolving, so it’s only natural that the practice of journalism evolve with it. New technology and consumer behavior drive the biggest impact as shuttering broadcast and print mediums make way for digital competitors. Advancements in technology show no signs of slowing down and neither will its direct effect on journalism. Here is a roundup of insightful think pieces on what changes we can expect in 2016:

More journalists taking content marketing jobs

Content marketing is only effective when the content itself is high quality. Professional writing and editing skills are in-demand, and marketing budgets are able to shell out for them. Joe Lazauskas, editor-in-chief at Contently, predicts that more brands will hire full-time editorial employees.

Though journalists are venturing into content marketing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all brand marketing is thriving. This blog post by Corporate Executive Board (CEB) notes that news aggregator apps such as Flipboard “separate content from advertising, and make it harder for brands to reach an audience.”

With regards to news technology, Cindy Royal, associate journalism professor at Texas A&M University writes “In the next year, media organizations will seek to better understand these emerging roles and consider the journalistic qualities that should be present in decisions associated with technology products, particularly as related to the audience’s civic and democratic participation.”

Safety and privacy regulations considered, there’s no doubt that drones have very useful applications in journalism, particularly when covering natural disasters and other scenarios where a birds-eye view adds another dimension to storytelling. For the Poynter Institute, Benjamin Mullin writes:

“It's difficult to convey the scope of damage wrought by a tornado or hurricane with street-level photography, but the loss becomes clear from 50 or 100 feet in the air. These visuals can be used to create maps of disaster areas and combined with data to explain how different sections of a community fared after a storm hit.”

Videos inform and engage viewers by bringing stories to life, and the arrival of 360◦ videos and virtual reality aim to intensify that experience. However, as discussed in the Reuters Institute’s Journalism, Media, and Technology predictions 2016, “Not all publishers have the time and resources to invest in teams or expensive equipment, so expect to see a host of inventive ways to keep costs down in 2016 while keeping volumes up.”

At ProfNet, we’ll be closely watching how these trends unfold as the year goes on. Check back on our blog every week for new content. Or, consider submitting a free query to find expert commentary or the latest research: prn.to/1NiK3d5

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